Line up includes

• Paul Kappa
• Merseycats’
• Just John and Paul
• Liverpool Community Choir

Full line up available to download from http://www.albertdock.com/mathew-st-festival-fab-four-family-stage/

Backbeat is the story of how the Beatles ‘became’ the Beatles – when John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Pete Best and Stuart Sutcliffe embarked on their journey from the famous docks of Liverpool to search for success in the seedy red light district of Hamburg.

The compelling triangular relationship between the band’s original bassist Stuart Sutcliffe, the striking German photographer Astrid Kirchherr whom he fell in love with, and his best friend John Lennon, became an intrinsic part of The Beatles’ story – and put them on an unstoppable trajectory onto the world stage.

Directed by the award-winning David Leveaux, Backbeat features the all-time rock ‘n’ roll classics that the Beatles cut their teeth with Twist & Shout, Rock ‘N’ Roll Music, Long Tall Sally, Please Mr Postman and Money – live on stage as performed by ‘The Beatles’.

To enter, simply email your name to backbeat@akauk.com with ‘Mathew Street competition’ in the subject line. Competition closes Friday 9 September.

5 pairs of tickets valid for performances 24 September – 15 October, subject to availability. Tickets are non-transferable and no cash alternative will be offered.

Winning tickets will be reserved for collection at theatre Box Office.

For the first time, residents and visitors will be able to buy a special black and gold wristband which gives them access to special offers and discounts from retailers, restaurants, bars and attractions across Liverpool on the 28 and 29 August.

Offers include 20% off meals at award winning restaurant Lunya in Liverpool ONE, 20% off the Yellow Boat Tour and 10% off clothes from Resurrection on Bold Street.

The wristbands cost just £3 and can be bought online via our ‘Shop’ page or at The 08 Place and Liverpool ONE Information Centre.

Leader of Liverpool City Council, Councillor Joe Anderson, said: “Band Together is a fantastic scheme for everyone involved.  Not only does it generate some financial support for the event, but thanks to the generosity of many of the city’s retailers, festival-goers will benefit from all the special offers.

“As a result of the budget pressures the city council faces we’ve had to think of different ways in which we can encourage people to support the annual event.

“Mathew Street Music Festival is hugely popular, but is costly to put on so we’re asking for support from those who take part in and enjoy the event.  It isn’t feasible for the council to continue to solely fund the event and the level of support we receive this year will shape the future of the event.

“The number of benefits people can receive when they pay just £3 wristband are fantastic, and I hope as many people as possible back the initiative and support this much-loved event.”

One of the special offers has been put forward by Liverpool music store Dawsons.  The Ranelagh Street store is offering customers discounts on brands the Beatles famously favoured.  There will also be 10% off accessories such as drum sticks and guitar strings, and all Beatles related books and souvenirs.

Dawsons Music Manager Kingsley Rich said “We think the Band Together concept is a great idea. We thought we’d enter into the spirit of things by offering some great deals on brands that The Beatles used, such as Gretsch and Epiphone guitars, and Vox amps.  We will also offering special discounts on accessories and our range of Beatles music books.

“And it makes sense to encourage more people in this great music city to pick up an instrument and show off their talent.”

There are other firsts for the festival this year – a VIP bar and terrace which offers an oasis of calm in the heart of all the action.

The stylish VIP area offers complimentary drinks and snacks, comfy sofas, free hair and make-up repairs, private loos and live entertainment.  Tickets for this exclusive marquee cost £25 and include the official Band Together wristband.  For more information visit www.mathewstreetvip.org.

There’s also an online competition run by top Midlands brewer Marston’s which is sponsoring the Superlambanana stage. They are encouraging local bands to upload their youtube videos for the chance to play at events and festivals in the city.  Judging will take place after the Festival and the most popular bands will be invited to play at a range of local venues and festivals in 2011 and 2012. The website address for entries is www.marstonsepa.co.uk/mathewst/.

This year is the 19th annual festival taking place on the 28 and 29 August.  It has the usual rich mix of international bands and local talent.  This year musicians from more than 30 countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Norway, Germany and the USA will be performing.  More than half of the acts are from the Merseyside region, and there will be a strong Beatles and Merseybeat presence across all the stages.

The event will see more than 80 hours of live outdoor music performed on five stages.

Highlights include a Liverpool Number One stage, where all 53 number ones recorded by Liverpool artists will be played, and a special celebration of the music of George Harrison.

The Made In Liverpool stage will feature original bands and artists from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s and the Radical Stage will celebrate Liverpool’s Year of the Radicals.

There’s also a nod to the 2012 London Olympics with a London Calling stage, while the contemporary stage at The Tunnel has tributes to Lady Gaga, Beyoncé and Katy Perry.

All the offers festival goers can make the most of so far are:

• 20% off meals at Lunya, Liverpool ONE
• 10% off accessories such as drum sticks and guitar strings, and all Beatles related music books and souvenirs at Dawsons Music.
• 10% off clothes from Resurrection on Bold Street (excluding sale items)
• 25% off meals at La Tasca
• A free soft drink with any burrito bought from Barburrito, Liverpool ONE
• 3 for 2 on all treatments at Scin Beauty Salon, Liverpool ONE
• 10% OFF at Menkind, Liverpool ONE
• 10% OFF at PizzaExpress, Liverpool ONE
• Free hair corsage with spend over £30 at Ollie & Nic, Liverpool ONE
• Free CD (Laurel Collective/The Boxer Rebellion) with every purchase at Ted Baker, Liverpool ONE
• 10% OFF at Krispy Kreme, Liverpool ONE
• Selected bottled beers and wines by the glass only £2.99 at Vinea Bar Shop & Deli, Britannia Pavilion, Albert Dock
• 10% OFF at Greenwoods, 33-35 Ranelagh Street
• £10 eye test (normally £20.95) and 2-4-1 on glasses (inc free sunglasses) at Specsavers, 52 Lord Street
• 1/3 OFF Radio City Tower tour at Radio City, St John’s Beacon
• 20% OFF the Yellow Boat Tour, 32 Anchor Courtyard, Albert Dock
• 241 Cocktails (Sunday to Thursday 4pm-8pm) and 2 Cocktails for £10 (exc Saturdays) at Revolution, Atlantic Pavilion, Albert Dock
• 25% OFF at Cafe Rouge, The Met Quarter

EDIT – The line up is now live.

In the meantime you can also find us on Facebook and Twitter.

While bands from Argentina, Brazil, Norway, Germany and the USA will be performing and visitors expected from over 30 countries, the overall emphasis for the two day festival, on August 28 and 29, is on Liverpool’s rich cultural links and heritage.

More than half of the performers will be from the Merseyside region with many of them making their festival debut. Although, for  the first time ever there will be no dedicated Beatles stage, there is a strong Beatles and Merseybeat presence throughout on each of the stages.

All the stages in the city centre have attracted sponsors from leading companies, showing the widespread interest in the festival.

Councillor Wendy Simon, Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member for culture and tourism, said: “This year’s festival is the 19th and promises to be one of the best ever. We have sponsors for all the stages and it is really encouraging to see the support we are getting from all over the world from local, national and international companies including giving new bands a great opportunity to play at gigs in the city.

“Whatever your musical taste is, whether it is the sounds of the 60’s or the latest bands, you will find it at the festival. There is a very strong Beatles and Merseybeat theme but there will be plenty of other styles of music, making the Mathew Street Music Festival the soundtrack to the August Bank Holiday.

“You can also look forward to more exciting new additions to the festival which we will be revealing shortly.”

Click here to read the rest of this press release.

The Mathew Street Music Festival will return for the 19th time in August, and in previous years the event has been solely funded by the city council.  Due to budget pressures, the city council is looking for support from local businesses which benefit from the hundreds of thousands of visitors who pour into the city over the August bank holiday weekend.

A range of opportunities for businesses are being developed ranging from stage sponsorship to smaller contributions from pubs and bars.

Letters have been sent out to 300 organisations in the city centre including bars, restaurants and hotels asking them to become sponsors for the 2011 festival and the Mathew Street Fringe festival.  A contribution ranging from £150 to £400 has been suggested – with those venues at the heart of the event paying more.

In return for working in partnership with the city council, there will be a range of benefits including recognition as a supporter in all promotional and marketing materials.

Among the first businesses to sign up are the Flanagan Group (which owns establishments such as the Newz Bar) and Cavern City Tours.  The Flanagan Group has donated an impressive £10,000 to sponsor a stage on Water Street, near the Newz Bar premises.

Cavern Club and Pub have generously given £2,000 to sponsor the event, and The Vernon, Garcias and La Cubanita are also contributing up to £400 each.

Leader of Liverpool City Council, Councillor Joe Anderson, said: “The Mathew Street Music Festival and Fringe is a popular event and is also extremely important to the local economy – bringing in £20million to the city in 2010.

“However, it is a costly festival to stage and as we’re facing £91million cuts this year we need to look at different ways we can raise the funding to in order for it to continue.

“Working with local businesses is the logical option as it’s in everybody’s interests to ensure we can put on an outstanding event as we have done for the last 18 years, and attract as many people as possible.  Due to the tough economic climate, we understand organisations are watching every penny, but the whole city reaps the benefits from this event.  So, we’re asking for any contributions – whether they’re big or small.

“I’m delighted the Flanagan Group and Cavern City Tours are among the first to pledge their support – I hope many more businesses will follow their lead and make the 2011 festival bigger and better than ever.”

Paul Flanagan, the Group Managing Director, said: “If the Mathew Street Music Festival goes, it will be a major blow for culture in our city.  It really does fall on the private sector to play their part and do what they can to make sure the event continues.

“It brings in hundreds of thousands of people into the city centre, and as the Newz Bar is the perfect party venue, it benefits from the increased visitor numbers.

“We realise it’s not feasible for the city council to solely fund the event, so wanted to play our part and help an event which boosts Liverpool’s image as well as maintains our reputation as a leading music city.”

Bill Heckle, Director of Cavern City Tours, said: “I feel it is imperative to put something back in and to this effect we have pledged £1000 each from both the Cavern Club and Cavern Pub in order to help with the funding of the Festival.  We have to raise money to ensure the future viability of the Festival but we cannot sit back and expect the city council to pick up the tab because firstly it cannot and secondly it will not!”

Local businesses who would like to find out more about the sponsorship scheme can email events@liverpool.gov.uk or call 0151 233 6833 / 0151 233 4552.

The festival is Europe’s largest free music event with acts to suit all tastes.  Mathew Street Fringe has been running for three years and celebrates the city’s original musicians in venues which support new music all year round.

Follow the link below and have a go at ‘balancing the books’ on our quick and simple, online budget tool. It’s over to you, to choose…

https://youchoose.yougov.com/liverpool